Chair construction



Dec. 18, 1934.

M. J. WILKE CHAIR CONSTRUCTION 19', 19:52 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

ETIE:

Bnnentor MAX JULIUS WILKE- (Itforneg 6.

Dec. 18, i a M, J. WlLKE 1,985,131

CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snventor AX G ULIUS WILKEI Qttornegs.

Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in furniture and has particular reference to rocking chairs.

The principal object of the invention is to produce a chair wherein rocking motion may be enjoyed without any manual effort upon the part of the user.

A further object is to produce a chair which has all the appearances of an ordinary rocking chair.

A further object is to produce a chair which is neat in appearance.

A still further object is to produce a device which may be economically manufactured and one which will be free from excessive noise incident to the rocking mechanism and one wherein the rocking motion will be smoothly accomplished.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, 1

Fig. l is a side elevation of a chair constructed in accordance with my invention and having a portion thereof broken away,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing the connecting plates,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the operating mechanism, and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Rocking chairs are common, but require the manual eifort of the user to produce the rocking effect. Applicant has therefore devised a scheme whereby this rocking may be mechanically accomplished, thus permitting the user to enioy the rocking motion without the manual effort.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a base upon which a chair 6 rests, the point of contact being formed by a rocker 7 secured to the chair 6. This construction is common to all rocking chairs and forms no part of my invention.

My invention consists of a pair of plates 8 and 9 secured to the base 5 and rocker 7, respectively, one of the plates carrying a pin 11 which fits in an opening 12 formed in the plate 8. This arrangement holds the rockers on the opposite sides of the chair in contact with the base, yet at the same time permits the rocker to freely change its point of contact with relation to the base. Secured to the chair is a power unit 13 such as an electric motor which is connected to a power line by a cable 14, and a switch 16 controls the flow of current to the motor. The motor drives a disc 17 to which is attached a crank arm 18 the free end of which crank arm connects to a pivoted lever 19 pivoted as at21 to a standard 22, which standard is carried by the chair 6. A spring 23 has one end connected to the lever 19 and has its opposite end connected to the base 5. A second spring may be interposed, if desired, between the end 24 of the lever 19 and the base. A folding foot board 26serves to support the feet of the user.

1 The result of this construction is that when the motor isturned. on, a rocking action will be transmitted through the link 18 to the lever 19 and as the only physical connection between the lever and the base is the spring 23, it will be apparent that when the motor actuates the lever in the position shown in Fig. 4, the spring 23 will be expanded and consequently the chair will be rocked backwardly. As the tension is removed from the spring the chair will be rocked forwardly. -It is therefore apparent that a rocking action will be accomplished, which rocking action depends entirely upon placing under tension and releasing of a spring connection between the rocker, and therefore the action will be very smooth.

It is'to be understood that the form of my, invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

In a rocking chair, the combination with a base member, of a chair member mounted to rock on said base member, a motor mounted on one of said members, a crank arm carried by the motor,. a lever pivoted on said member adjacent to the motor and having one end connected to said crank arm, and a spring connected to the other member and to the crank arm end of said lever, whereby when said motor is actuated the spring imparts a rocking mo tion to said chair.

MAX JULIUS WILKE. 

